Description of Invention:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single stranded RNA virus responsible for the majority
of non-A non-B hepatitis. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a worldwide distribution and
is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in the U.S., Europe,
and Japan. For this reason, development of a vaccine against hepatitis C is of great
importance.
The present invention provides immunogenic peptides of HCV core protein which
elicit an enhanced immune response, methods for making these peptides, and
methods for using these peptides for a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic, and
prognostic applications, including a vaccine. More specifically, the present invention
provides an isolated peptide, an isolated HCV core polypeptide, a fragment of an
HCV core polypeptide and nucleic acids which encode the peptides and
polypeptides of this invention. The invention provides a modified HCV core peptide
that is more immunogenic than the corresponding natural core peptide for eliciting
human cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
Inventors:
Jay A. Berzofsky (NCI) Pablo Sarobe (NCI) CD Pendleton (NCI) Stephen M. Feinstone (FDA)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-192-1998/0 Licensing Status: This technology is no longer available for licensing.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Susan Ano Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5515
Email: anos@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
